5/27/06 "Il pochi il fiero i blabbermouths" We *will* sail again Part 5

[chip&dale&fun]

So has every one deserted me here now that I have caught up on all the posts???

Yup - at 9:47 - I think the score was tied....

And a Top thanks to Penn State vs. FSU.

Needless to say, no undecorating occured last night.....

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning cruisers!

Happy Wednesday!

Prayers going out to the families of the WV miners. What a terrible roller coaster ride they were on yesterday.​

 

[scuba diver]

The only downside was the drive back. We were stuck on I85 by an accident. We went 35 miles in 2 hours. Really threw my timetable off. Oh well...

Virgil

That's why you have GPS. We had the same problem coming down I75 after Christmas. The highway was a mess. Used GPS to get off the main road and did back roads.

 

[WDWLVR]

Really? Was that one of the cuises that the stops were cancelled due to weather?

There have been a few cruises that have gone to CC twice. Our 2003 DVC Member cruise was one. Also I believe for the last couple of years the Thanksgiving Western cruises have done CC in place of Key West due to a boating festival held that weekend.

 

[WDWLVR]

Maria - I sent you a pm with some ideas on the shirts. Hope it helps.


As for everyone else - please if you have ideas on what would make a good logo please suggest it. Mark and I will be happy to host any sketches etc. on the website so that we can look at them and vote.

 

[kikipug]

Freestyle Cruising (eating whenever and wherever you want) is great in theory & practice. ... The downside is that unless you really go out of your way to engage in conversation with the servers, it isn't any different than a restaurant at home. The automatic tipping has taken away the incentive for some of them.

I LOVE NCL's 'freestyle' cruising... which is why I love NCL... dinner takes MUCH less time, and happens when you're hungry... not when the schedule says. In terms of servers, I'd rather that they be as unobtrusive as possible... just politely take my order, get it right, and let me be... granted DCL CM's are trained to have more interaction, but I can take it or leave it. Automatic tipping... DCL has it now... is it new or has it always been an option? We added ours in when we booked... more Disney Rewards before the cruise that way, and one less headache... having cruised NCL many times, we are used to the 'pre-paid' system anyway.

There are stairs that go down the side of the ship...seemed a little scary at first, but once I got used to them, that was pretty cool, too. It was like walking right on the ocean. I'll have to post a picture so that you can see what I mean.

Funny, of the 5 cruise ships that I've been on, they ALL have stairs like that... on DCL, do you have to go back INSIDE just to go to another deck? That stinks! (I never use elevators on a cruise... need to burn calories...)

 

[kikipug]

Just got this e-mail from my TA... granted, this cruise will be paid off before 4/1, but I thought this was odd...

Effective April 1, 2006, Disney Cruise Line® is modifying its credit card payment policy. Travel Agents will no longer be able to charge a Client’s credit card at final payment for less than the full amount of the cruise purchased.

This policy will help to simplify the booking process.

So do they really expect people to either pay 100% up front on their cc, or pay by check for the balance???? (Do people still write checks??)

 

[CajunGirl2]

I'm back at the office now. I'll have to try to catch up on posts tonight. Yesterday was a busy day here and I didn't get a chance to read during lunch.

We've also been in the midst of car shopping. Last night we purchased a Toyota Sequoia and got rid of our Toyota 4Runner. I hope we made the right decision!

Hope everyone has a great hump day!

Ang

 

[MarkRG]

Freestyle Cruising (eating whenever and wherever you want) is great in theory & practice. ... The downside is that unless you really go out of your way to engage in conversation with the servers, it isn't any different than a restaurant at home. The automatic tipping has taken away the incentive for some of them.

I LOVE NCL's 'freestyle' cruising... which is why I love NCL... dinner takes MUCH less time, and happens when you're hungry... not when the schedule says. In terms of servers, I'd rather that they be as unobtrusive as possible... just politely take my order, get it right, and let me be... granted DCL CM's are trained to have more interaction, but I can take it or leave it. Automatic tipping... DCL has it now... is it new or has it always been an option? We added ours in when we booked... more Disney Rewards before the cruise that way, and one less headache... having cruised NCL many times, we are used to the 'pre-paid' system anyway.

And what both of you are saying is exactly why I dont think I'd like freestyle cruising. I happen to like having the same servers every night, and dinner at a set time. Most of the time, it makes dinner go that much more smoothly. I also don't like rushing thru a meal at all, for me, it is a serious part of the trip to explore a bit and try dinners I wouldn't normally. That means time for me to appreciate the meal.

Funny, of the 5 cruise ships that I've been on, they ALL have stairs like that... on DCL, do you have to go back INSIDE just to go to another deck? That stinks! (I never use elevators on a cruise... need to burn calories...)

Yup. The exception is 10 and 9(?- the top two,the sun deck and pool deck) that have outside ones. Each elevator shaft has a double stairwell oposite them. I wouldn't like an outside stairwell, having to go down decks under sail while the wind beats at you outside is not my idea of fun. And I avoid the elevators too.

 

[MarkRG]

Just got this e-mail from my TA... granted, this cruise will be paid off before 4/1, but I thought this was odd...

Effective April 1, 2006, Disney Cruise Line® is modifying its credit card payment policy. Travel Agents will no longer be able to charge a Client’s credit card at final payment for less than the full amount of the cruise purchased.

This policy will help to simplify the booking process.

So do they really expect people to either pay 100% up front on their cc, or pay by check for the balance???? (Do people still write checks??)

Not up front, the final payment. You'll still be able to pay in less parts before that point.

And we still pay all our home bills by check. I don't trust online billpay. But I do believe our payments toward this cruise are on a CC too.

 

[ohiominnie]

WOW - Triple Overtime Lat Night - what a game.....a little bit tired this am, I am.

Crazy, huh? I'm dragging this am too. And it's cleaning day.

No motivation here.

 

[ohiominnie]

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dinner takes MUCH less time, and happens when you're hungry...


Automatic tipping... DCL has it now... is it new or has it always been an option?

Hunger on a cruise???? NEVER!!!!

DCL has automatic tipping now? Hmmm....I am NOT keeping up with the main boards very well.

 

[ohiominnie]

We've also been in the midst of car shopping. Last night we purchased a Toyota Sequoia and got rid of our Toyota 4Runner. I hope we made the right decision!

We love our Sequoia! Not the best on gas, but roomy, comfy, and safe in bad weather.

 

[Dancind]

Hunger on a cruise???? NEVER!!!!

DCL has automatic tipping now? Hmmm....I am NOT keeping up with the main boards very well.

I don't think they have mandatory automatic tipping, it may be an option. I wouldn't do it, and I don't like it when it's mandatory. I think you get much better service if you tip AFTER the fact.

 

[CajunGirl2]

We love our Sequoia! Not the best on gas, but roomy, comfy, and safe in bad weather.

Thanks Karen. I think we'll be happy with it. It's just a LOT of money. We had our 4Runner for 8 years and were VERY happy with it. I just wanted something a little bigger as the girls get older. Bruce liked the GMC Yukon but I liked the Sequoia. Guess who won? I think the real clencher was that the Sequoia got better gas mileage than the Yukon. Bruce gets to drive it until I'm a little more recovered from my back surgery though. I still can't twist in the seat to back out of a parking space/garage so I just won't trust myself with it just yet. My day will come though! I can't wait to take it on our next trip to Louisiana in Feb. Scoopie will be with us!

Ang

 

[justmestace]

Not up front, the final payment. You'll still be able to pay in less parts before that point.

And we still pay all our home bills by check. I don't trust online billpay. But I do believe our payments toward this cruise are on a CC too.

My friend the TA has been having fits with DCL and their accounting department. I had a cruise from last year that we had to cancel, and I wanted the money from that to be put onto a new cruise, and instead DCL divided some of it between two cruises and refunded me the rest...and they've done that with several of their other clients. It makes it hard as heck for me to keep track of, and even harder for the TA's who have several clients. I hope their plan simplifies things for everyone.

I still pay all of our bills by check, and I am one of the few anymore who still gets all of my checks back with my bank statement. Can't tell you how many times it has made my life simpler to be able to pull a check out, right that very minute and say "Yes, I DID pay this bill".


A T.O.P. with MARK and MONEY....that's gotta be a good sign, no??

 

[WVMD]

That's why you have GPS. We had the same problem coming down I75 after Christmas. The highway was a mess. Used GPS to get off the main road and did back roads.

OK - let out a GASP!!!! I don't have GPS in my car, yet..... Frances has it in her Pacifica, but the Audi doesn't have it.... I've been looking at the TomTom Go 700 - I really want the Bluetooth phone integration, but hate another add on. I'm not going to be buying a new car anytime soon - so I'll probably take the plunge... (Of course Frances wanted me to take the Pacifica since it was easier for Kristin to drive - but she did fine with the Audi....)

Virgil

 

[justmestace]

Yup. The exception is 10 and 9(?- the top two,the sun deck and pool deck) that have outside ones. Each elevator shaft has a double stairwell oposite them. I wouldn't like an outside stairwell, having to go down decks under sail while the wind beats at you outside is not my idea of fun. And I avoid the elevators too.

If we had been out in the middle of the Caribbean, you wouldn't have caught me going down those stairs...and I wouldn't have used them if I were dressed for formal night, or wearing a skirt!
But for the most part, we were in fairly "protected" waters, between th Bay Islands and Mexico, Honduras and Belize....very calm, and very slow sailing. The first night out, we were at 17 knots..that was our max. After that, we didn't even hit 15 knots.

And you made me LOL with your editing note.

 

[justmestace]

OK - let out a GASP!!!! I don't have GPS in my car, yet..... Frances has it in her Pacifica, but the Audi doesn't have it.... I've been looking at the TomTom Go 700 - I really want the Bluetooth phone integration, but hate another add on. I'm not going to be buying a new car anytime soon - so I'll probably take the plunge... (Of course Frances wanted me to take the Pacifica since it was easier for Kristin to drive - but she did fine with the Audi....)

Virgil

GASP!

 

[justmestace]

I shouldn't be sitting here...I should be paying bills, now that we've mentioned it.
Oh well.

Our room...on NCL...one of the Owner's Suites....(mind you, I am not complaining)....but it was 336 sq feet, including balcony. Definitely not the Roy. But they did a great job with the layout.
When you entered the room, to your immediate right was the bathroom, to the left was a nice size walk-in closet, otherwise known as Jared's bedroom. The closet had a Murphy bed in it.
A few steps further put you in the living room, which had floor to ceiling windows....a really nice touch. Turn right and there was a nice desk with lots of shelves and the bar set up, but no sink. Turn left from the entrance to the living room and there was the TV, CD player and DVD player.
On the far right was a door to the balcony and just right of that was the bedroom ...which also had a balcony door. There was a small closet/cabinet in the bedroom and also a small dressing table. No room to walk around the bed, a wall on one side and the door to the balcony on the other. The bathroom also had a door into the bedroom, which was handy when Jordan's couch bed was open and you couldn't walk through the living room to get to the bedroom.
The room was decorated nicely, and we liked it. The bathroom had a tub (no jets) but the tub was set so high off the ground that I nearly needed a ladder to get in there. The shower was in the tub. The one bad thing was that the shower/tub had clear glass doors. If someone was in there, no one else could use the potty......no matter how much I begged and said "I promise I won't LOOK!" LOL